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10/31/2017

You are receiving Sharing Neighborhoods as a registered subscriber. Sharing Neighborhoods is a publication of New Jersey SHARES, on the web at www.NJSHARES.org.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Jim Jacob, President & CEO

President’s Message

This month I am pleased to recognize three important anniversaries. Twelve years ago, in October 2005, NJ SHARES began our partnership with SUEZ Water and Verizon NJ, and nine years ago this month we started our collaboration with New Jersey American Water.

The SUEZ Water Cares, NJAW H2O Help to Others and Verizon NJ Communications Lifeline programs have all been designed to help moderate and low-income New Jersey residents obtain temporary relief through telephone and water utility grants. A heartfelt thank you to these utilities that are helping us to provide important assistance for those facing unforeseen circumstances.

Last week, I attended the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey’s (APN) annual Poverty Summit titled: Dismantling Poverty: Media, Messaging, and Mobilization. It was a productive event that provided important insights into the factors that perpetuate poverty and structural racism. We also examined strategies and solutions to help end poverty in our state. Approximately 250 participants from service organizations, advocacy groups, faith communities, government and academia gathered at Rutgers University in New Brunswick to discuss issues related to poverty in New Jersey.

Finally, as NJ SHARES’ prepares to celebrate our 20th anniversary, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals and organizations who are supporting us in our upcoming Cool Down for Warmth Ice House fundraising event. We’re building an Ice House in downtown Newark at the Prudential Center’s Championship Plaza and participants are helping us to raise funds while they sit inside the cold Ice House. The event is taking place on February 1 and 2 – visit njshares.org/cooldownforwarmth for more information and to get involved.

Warm regards,

Jim Jacob

What's New

Will you sit in the Ice House? You can help!

Will you sit in the Ice House? You can help! NJ SHARES friends and supporters will help us to raise funds by sitting inside the cold ice house and seeking donations to benefit NJ SHARES. Prior to the event, willing participants will create a Crowdrise event page and pledge to stay in the house until they have met a fundraising goal of $2,500 per team, or $1,000 per individual. Donations may be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from our partnering utility companies and 100 percent of the donations and matching funds will be used to provide utility assistance grants to qualified New Jersey households in need. Visit njshares.org/CoolDownforWarmth to learn how you can join in the fun or email icehouse@njshares.org with any questions.

To add to the excitement - the Devils are offering discounted tickets to their February 1 game against the Flyers to all NJ SHARES supporters.

PSE&G Signs-On as Presenting Sponsor for NJ SHARES’ Ice House Event

We are pleased to announce that PSE&G is the presenting sponsor for the NJ SHARES Cool Down for Warmth event. We are holding this unique and exciting fundraising opportunity to showcase the critical importance of heat during the cold winter months.

Cool Down for Warmth celebrates NJ SHARES’ 20 years of providing energy assistance to households with nowhere else to turn. On January 31, world renowned Ice and Sand Sculptor, Ed Jarrett will team up with NJ SHARES, and host sponsor the New Jersey Devils, to build an Ice House on the Prudential Center Championship Plaza in Newark. The fundraiser will take place on February 1 and wrap-up on February 2. Sponsorships are still available, visit njshares.org/CoolDownforWarmth.

Just in time to ‘Turn up the Heat’ - the NJ DEVILS ‘Share the Warmth’ with Discount Tickets

The NJ DEVILS have made discounted tickets available to their February 1st game against the Philadelphia Flyers! This favorite rivalry game, sometimes referred to as ‘The Battle of the Jersey Turnpike’, aligns with the NJ SHARES’ Cool Down forWarmth fundraising event featuring an Ice House located on the Prudential Center Championship Plaza in Newark and built by world renowned Ice and Sand Sculptor, Ed Jarrett!

The experience of poverty in New Jersey encompasses a broad spectrum of individuals and families facing economic struggle. The spectrum includes people with very low incomes facing dire deprivation and daily sacrifices. It also includes those among the working poor, who are often ignored by official poverty statistics but who nevertheless experience real and harmful economic challenges.

NJ SHARES Attends 2017 Governor’s Conference

NJ SHARES had the opportunity to exhibit our programs at the 2017 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development. The conference, which centered around building foundations to shape our communities, was held on October 5th at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.

NJ SHARES Presents Program Information at PSE&G Social Service Trainings

NJ SHARES recently presented information on our energy, telephone and water utility assistance programs as part of the PSE&G Social Service Trainings. Three trainings were held throughout PSE&G’s service area in Edison, Totowa and West Hampton. The events provided attendees with information on energy assistance and other social service programs available to PSE&G customers. NJ SHARES was showcased along with Comfort Partners, the Universal Service Program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and others. More than 100 representatives from non-profit and government agencies attended the annual event, designed to help community members prepare s for the heating season ahead.

Pictured are Jaimi Mortillaro, Division Manager of Outreach and Special Events for Middlesex County Office of Aging & Disabled Services and Dena Shipley, Outreach Coordinator for NJ SHARES.

NJ SHARES Exhibits at Middlesex and Somerset County Events

In keeping with our mission to serve the aging and disabled communities, we partnered with the Middlesex and Somerset Offices on Aging and Disability Services last month to participate in two events. First, NJ SHARES had the pleasure of hosting an information table at the annual Senior Health and Fitness walk in Roosevelt Park in Edison and then, we had the opportunity to host an information table at the 2017 DisABILITY Services Fair at the Thomas J. Kavanaugh VFW Hall in Manville.

Both events focused on the interests and needs of seniors and individuals living with disabilities, their families, caregivers and friends. We thank our partners and friends at the County Offices in Middlesex and Somerset for giving us the opportunity to meet their residents and educate them on available resources.

Pictured at the event are Atlantic City Electric's Sr. Community Relations Specialist, Evalene R. Wright and NJ SHARES' Hannah Ayoub.

NJ SHARES Offers Assistance to Cumberland County Residents

NJ SHARES’ assisted qualified Atlantic City Electric customers in signing up for programs to assist with their utility bills at the Millville Public Library on Saturday Oct 21, 2017. Pictured at the event are NJ SHARES’ Hannah Ayoub and Atlantic City Electric's Sr. Community Relations Specialist, Evalene R. Wright.

Pictured at the event are NJNG's Thomas Hayes and NJ SHARES' Dena Shipley.

NJ SHARES Attends New Jersey Natural Gas Customer Forums

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) held its annual forums in Morris, Ocean and Monmouth County this month. The forums are designed to provide the latest information on available resources and energy assistance to their community partners to share with staff and clientele. NJNG is proud to serve the community and bring valuable resources to those who need it most.

NJ SHARES Highlights Programs at NAACP Job Fair

As part of our community outreach program, NJ SHARES spoke to job seekers at the NAACP Job Fair in early October. The fair, held in Parsippany, was a great opportunity for NJ SHARES to share information with attendees about resources available during a time of unemployment or under-employment. Our staff provided information and referrals to resources throughout the state.

Agency Spotlight

Pictured on the Left is Dr. Luis Rodriguez and on the right is NJ SHARES' Dena Shipley providing training to the staff and volunteers at La Casa Dominicana de New Jersey.

La Casa Dominicana de New Jersey

NJ SHARES is fortunate to partner with more than 230 agencies around the state. Each organization has a different mission and focus, but all provide holistic solutions to their community. “At NJ SHARES, we believe it is important to empower our communities to provide assistance in their neighborhoods so that people have access to this assistance in a place they feel comfortable asking for help,” said Jim Jacob NJ SHARES President and CEO.

NJ SHARES is fortunate to partner with more than 230 agencies around the state. Each organization has a different mission and focus, but all provide holistic solutions to their community. “At NJ SHARES, we believe it is important to empower our communities to provide assistance in their neighborhoods so that people have access to assistance in a place they feel comfortable asking for help,” said Jim Jacob NJ SHARES President and CEO.

This month we want to welcome our new partners at La Casa Dominicana de New Jersey – The Dominican Home of New Jersey. With a purpose of fostering and encouraging the involvement and interest of the Hispanic-American community, the Dominican Home, takes an active role in the sensitive problems of the community and strives for the betterment and enhancement in the community focusing on key resources such as civic, professional, social, education, charitable and cultural perseverance.

We met Dr. Luis Rodriguez at our Dine Out to Donate event in July. Dr. Rodriguez is the organization’s President and a recent recipient of the Hispanic Leadership Award as well as Atlantic City’s Hometown Heroes Award. Both awards recognize dedication to enhancing the quality of life for the community.

The principal office of the organization is in Atlantic City. NJ SHARES programs will be part of La Casa Dominicana de New Jersey’s community education program and will help provide NJ SHARES’ programs to a hard-to-reach community.

Don't Miss

NJPAC and PSE&G Present True Diversity Film Series

On November 2, the PSE&G True Diversity Film Series screens films and hosts talk backs that explore the deeper issues surrounding diversity rather than just the standard gender, race and religion. These three short films, American Sueno, Hijabi World and Fighting Chance, were created as part of the Newest American Series, originated by Rutgers University – Newark. The events provide an opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion with invited guests of varied fields, including academia, news media and beyond.